PINCKNEY – The Pinckney football team got nearly 300 yards passing from quarterback Josh Hess and won its homecoming game on Friday, beating Milford 31-12 at Pinckney High School.

“It’s always big to win on homecoming,” said Pinckney coach Jakob Gailitis, whose team improved to 2-5 overall, 2-3 in the KLAA West. “We always want to send our seniors out with a win on homecoming.”

Milford held the ball for long stretches, but the Pirates used some big rushing plays and key passes from Hess to defeat the Mavericks (1-6, 0-5).

The Pirates overcame nine penalties for nearly 100 yards while taking a 16-0 lead at halftime. Joel Blankenship scored on an 8-yard run in the first quarter, followed by Liam Higgins’ 37-yard field goal and a 4-yard touchdown run by Josh Hess in the second quarter.

Milford got its first score early in the third period, but the Pirates put the game out of reach with a 3-yard run by Jake Stahl and a safety when Milford snapped the ball out of the end zone on a punt play.

Josh Eagy, who had five catches for 147 yards, scored on a 55-yard strike in the fourth quarter from Hess to end the scoring. Eagy and Hess traded places on one play, with Eagy throwing a 31-yard pass to Hess.

Blake Duke had six catches for 103 yards for the Pirates. Hess was 14-for-24 for 290 yards.

The Pirates will play host to Walled Lake Northern next week in a Lakes Conference crossover. Milford, meanwhile, will play host to Lakeland next week in a crossover, then travel to Lakeland in a previously scheduled season finale.

“They kind of dominated us on the defensive line,” Fowlerville caoch Bret Shrader said. “Our defense played as tough as it could.”

The loss dropped the Gladiators to 1-6 overall, 0-5 in the CAAC White. They travel to Lakewood next week before hosting Lansing Waverly in the season finale.

“I knew our league schedule was as good as they come,” Shrader said. “All of the teams are very physical. Now I’d like to get a win for our players. They deserve it. They’ve put too much time into it not to get a win.”